Acting Director of the FHFA, Bill Pulte has shaped housing policy amid Trump’s immigration and security agenda while facing scrutiny over transparency and influence.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has said the Justice Department will not proceed with a $1.776 billion "anti-weaponization" fund tied to a settlement with President Donald Trump, while confirming that a provision barring audits of Trump and his family will remain in place. The fund has been paused by a federal judge and has faced bipartisan backlash.
Senate and House debates intensify over a $70 billion three-year funding package for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol, with lawmakers grappling over a controversial $1.8 billion settlement fund for Trump allies. The measure has sparked intra-party divisions and a series of amendments as leadership seeks to finalize funding through the end of Trump’s term.
President Donald Trump has named Bill Pulte, the Federal Housing Finance Agency director and chair of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, as acting director of national intelligence. Pulte will keep his housing posts, has no known intelligence experience and can serve up to 210 days without Senate confirmation, prompting bipartisan concern about politicising the intelligence community.
The Los Angeles mayoral primary remains undecided as ballots continue to be counted. Bass has advanced to the November runoff, while Raman has gained a narrow lead over Pratt for the second slot as mail ballots are tallied.
The CIA-investigated case centers on David Rush, a former CIA officer, who has been arrested after investigators found 303 gold bars, $2 million in cash, and dozens of luxury watches in his Virginia home. He has allegedly used a fake special access program and falsified credentials to obtain funds for work-related expenses between November 2025 and March 2026. The FBI and CIA are pursuing the case, with detention ordered as flight risk is cited.
The New York Times, The Guardian, CNBC, Al Jazeera and other outlets report that Donald Trump has nominated Todd Blanche to serve as attorney general, moving from acting to permanent head of the Justice Department. The nomination faces a Senate confirmation battle amid scrutiny of Blanche’s ties to the Epstein files, the $1.8 billion anti-weaponisation fund and past actions at the DOJ.
The Senate has passed a border-enforcement measure after a tense vote-a-rama, highlighting deep splits within the Republican Party over Trump-aligned priorities. The package now heads to the House, where support and objections are both likely to shape its fate in a politically charged election year.
The government has renewed debate over Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act as a lapse looms. President Trump has named Bill Pulte as acting DNI, triggering bipartisan concerns and stalling renewal talks while lawmakers debate guardrails and timing.
President Donald Trump has announced Jay Clayton as his nominee for director of national intelligence while Bill Pulte is serving as acting DNI and ordered immediate staff cuts at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Pulte’s interim appointment and lack of intelligence experience have provoked bipartisan concern and stalled a key FISA surveillance renewal in Congress.
Republican factions in Congress have rebuked President Trump on Iran, the White House ballroom funding, and the anti-weaponization fund, while Ukraine aid moves forward. The party faces growing fractures as it weighs next steps ahead of Election Day.